Automatic knitting machine for transferring from ribbed to plain knitting



May 4, 193 7.

H. M ADAMS .AUTOMATIC KNITTING MACHINE FOR TRANSFERRING FROM RIBBED TOPLAIN KNITTING Filed Aug. 22, 1951 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 HEIFF M AEIINVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

May 4, 193 7.

AUTOMATIC KNITTING H. MCADAMS MACHINE FOR TRANSFERRING FROM RIBBED TOPLAIN KNITTING Filed Aug. 22, l95l aoaaoopoa on 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 h l /0gW rt.

/ ATTORNEYS.

H. MCADAMS AUTOMATIC KNITTING MACHINE FOR TRANSFERRING' FROM RIBBED TOPLAIN KNITTING 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Aug. 22, 1931.

w 1. i I I P BY I May 4, 1937.

H. M ADAMS 2,079,298

AUTOMATIC KNITTING MACHINE FOR TRANSFERRING FRQM RIBBED o PLAINKNITTI-NG Filed Aug. 22, 1931 8 SheetsSheet 7 f A E 5 E55 25 7 f I A 1'r X :3 F M A57 4/5 2 v I k V 0 ii 7 J Q A I INVENTOR.

Har fgm'i kdams ATTORNEYS.

May 4, 1937. H. M ADAMS AUTOMATIC KNITTING MACHINE FOR TRANSFERRING FROMRIBBED TO PLAIN KNITTING iled Aug. 22, 1951 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTORYEIDEI- H51? 5 M'EA Y B v I. aQnTo 6 I Patented May 4, 1937 UNETED STATESAUTOMATIC KNITTING MACHINE FOR TRANSFERR-ING FROM RIBBED TO PLAINKNITTING Harry McAdams, Reading, Pa., assignor to Nolde and HorstCompany, Reading, Pa., a corporation Application August 22, 1931, SerialNo; 558,798

32 Claims.

This invention relates to mechanisms for the production of knittedfabrics. It particularly relates to a knitting machine for the automaticknitting of ribbed or plain seamless hosiery, or other tubular fabricswithout the necessity of manual transfer.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of an improvedknitting machine whereon seamless knitted fabric may be knitted withboth plain or ribbed effect with an automatic transferring of thefabric.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improvedknitting machine of the type generally disclosed in U. S. Patent'#933,443, .but which has associated therewith improved means for theknitting of plain and ribbed fabric, with improved means toautomatically effect the transfer of the stitch loops of the fabric fromdial nee-. dles of the machine to certain cylinder needles at the timeof transfer from rib knitting to plain knitting.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, andwherein similar reference characters designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved knitting machine.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken through the cylinder anddial parts of the improved machine, showing their cooperative relationand the drive means therefor.

Figure 3 is a front elevation of certain parts of the improved knittingmachine.

Figure 3a is a developed view in a plane of the cooperative needleaction of the improved machine, and the association of cylinder needlesand earns therefor.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of mechanism by means of whicha cam controlling drum is operated with a step by step movement from theconventional I04 wheel of the Banner type of knitting machine, the partsbeing shown in an operative relation with said wheel.

Figure 5 is a view showing the parts of Figure 4 inoperativelypositioned with respect to IM wheel, and under which circumstances thecam controlling drum is stationary.

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the cooperative action ofthe cylinder and dial needles during the transfer of the stitch loops ofthe fabric being knitted when transferring from rib knitting into plainknitting.

.Fligure 7 is a plan view of a knitting machine dial with needlessupported therein; di..l cap cam partssbeing shown in dot and dashlines,

plane surface of a part of the needle cam controlling drum, showing theoperative association thereon of means for operating the various camlevers and parts.

Figures 11 to 18 inclusive are diagrammatic views of the cam drumshowing the respective means thereon for operatingthe various needle camoperating levers and parts.

Figure 19 is a cross sectional view taken on the line ill-l9 of Figure1.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown only apreferred embodiment of the invention, the letter A may generallydesignate the machine, which includes a frame B, a cylinder C, a dial D,means E to operate the cylinder and dial. F may generally indicate a setof cylinder needles, and G a set of dial needles.

Generally the machine frame B includes a supporting bed 20 whereon therotatable needle cylinder C is mounted. The means for rotating andoscillating the cylinder C are of any approved type, and preferablythose shown in the patent above mentioned. The cylinder is driven from amain shaft 2|, shown in Figure 9 of the drawings, whereon are positionedthe usual pulleys and gearing including a pinion 22 for driving a largergear 23 known conventionally as the I04 gear, which is suitably mountedupon a shaft 24. The main drive shaft is also provided with the usualquadrant 25 for reciprocating the cylinder dur ing the knitting of theheel and toe, as is usual, and will be well understood by those skilledin this art.

The needle cylinder C is provided with the usual needle grooves 26wherein the latch needles of the set F are independently mounted forreciprocation. At its upper end the cylinder is provided with the usualweb holding bed ring l5 whereon the web holders or sinkers l6 arereciprocably mounted within radial grooves; the same being actuatedduring their radial movement by cams supported upon a cam ring I! whichis stationary during rotation of the cylinder.

The machine is of the independent latch needle type, but it is to beunderstood thatthe improvements are not to be limited in application tothe supports a body yarn 32 which is fed to the cylinder and dialneedles for the production of plain or ribbed knitting. A second yarnfinger 3| may support another yarn 33, the purpose of which will besubsequently mentioned. These yarn fingers are manipulated by the usuallevers 34, shown in Figure 3 of the drawings, which in. turn areoperated from the pattern cam shaft 35, shown in Figure 3. This camshaft is provided with the usual cams, ratchets, pattern chain, etc.which are more particularly referred to in the patent above mentioned.The pattern chain 6 for purposes of the improvement to which thisinvention is directed, is provided with an operating lug shown inFigures 4 and 5 of the drawings to control the operative or inoperativepositions of the mechanism by means of which the needle cam control drum94 is manipulated from the gear 23. Furthermore, the pattern cam shaft35 is provided with a drum 40 directly keyed therewith.

On the rear of the bed 2|) of the machine there is positioned anupwardly extending bracket 4| provided with a gear housing 42overhanging the cylinder. This gear housing 42 rotatably supports alarge gear 43 therein, to which is keyed a vertically positioned driveshaft 44. The latter is divided into an upper portion directly connectedwith the gear 43 and a lower portion 44 keyed at 45 to the depending hubof the dial bed 46 of the dial construction D. The upper and lower partsof the dial drive shaft are connected by an intermediate drive link 48,which at its upper and lower ends is connected at 49 by universal jointwith said upper and lower parts of the dial drive shaft. This driveshaft construction for the dial enables the latter to be driven trulyconcentric with the cylinder C. It is of course understood that theupper portion of the dial drive shaft 44 is splined on the gear 43, sothat the shaft 44 may be slid upwardly, as is usual, to clear the dialfrom the top of the cylinder when necessary. The dial cap 50 is held innon-rotatable position above the dial bed by means of a two-part armconstruction 5|, consisting of a part 5| bifurcated at its outer end andsecured as shown at 52, see Figure 2 of the drawings, to the upwardlyextending hub portion of the dial cap 50; the portion 5| being connectedto the other portion 5| of the arm 5|, as shown in Figure 1, at 53. Theportion 5| has a sleeve 5| slidable upon a vertical rod 54, which issecured at its upper and lower ends by means of brackets 55 secured tothe standard 4]. The

sleeve 5| slides freely along the shaft 54 between the clamps 55. Inorder to have accessto the dial cap and turn the same the connectioncylinder C; the lower part 63 bearing at 64 in the bed 20 of the machineand having a pinion 65 keyed therewith and meshing with the gear 60. Theupper portion 62 of the shaft has a pinion 66 keyed therewith andmeshing with the gear 43; the gears 60 and 43 having the same pitchdiameter, and the gears 65 and 66 having the same pitch diameter, sothat the dial construction D is driven at the same speed of rotation asthe cylinder C, for obvious reasons. Improved means adustably connectsthe shafts 62 and 63 so that they may be angularly adjusted and set witha desired adjustment to properly position the angularity of the dialconstruction D with respect to the cylinder C, so that the cylinder anddial needles will properly intermesh for rib knitting. To this end theupper and lower portions 62 and 63 of the drive shaft have complementarysegment portions 68 and 69 connected therewith and keyed respectivelytherewith; the complementary segment extensions having adjusting screwsIll and H connected thereto, each of which may be adjusted in itssegment to engage the chord face of the other segmental extension, toadjust the angularity of the shafts 62 and 63 with respect to eachother, as will be apparent from Figures 1, 2 and 19 of the drawings.

Referring to the arrangement of latch needles comprising the entireneedle set F for the cylinder C, as shown best in Figure 3a of thedrawings the cylinder needles are. all of the same length. Obviously anydesird number of needles may be provided. As is usual, about onehalf ofthe total number of these needles are provided with long butts, whichhave been designated in solidblack on Figure 3a, and the remainingneedles are provided with short butts which are properly indicated onthe needles in Figure 3a, as will be obvious. The machine is providedwith the usual narrowing pickers shown at 12 in Figure 3 of thedrawings, and also provided with widening pickers which occupy the space13 shown in Figure 3 of the drawings, but which have been omitted forthe purpose of clarifying important details of the invention. Thesepickers are of the character set forth in the patent above referred to,and their functions are well understood by those skilled in this art.

Alternate latch needles of the set F are cooperatively placed in thesame needle groove of the cylinder with long jacks I5, and the remainingneedles have cooperatively associated in the- As is usual, the dial bed46 is provided with radial grooves within which the dial needlesreciprocate. These dial needles are sub-divided into long and short buttneedles; substantially one-half of them being long butts, as shown inblack in Figure 7 of the drawings; the long butt dial needles beingcooperatively and adjacently associated with the long butt cylinderneedles.

Generally it will be understood that the dial needles are inoperative.so far as the knitting yarn is concerned, during plain knitting; the

, cylinder needles doingall of the work. During rib knitting onlyalternate cylinder needles are elevated in position to take the knittingyarn; the remainder of the cylinder needles being sunk in the groovesand inoperatively positioned. Also during rib knitting the dial needlesare provided in such association with the effective alternate cylinderknitting needles that there are two dial needles operative to take-thedial stitch loop between the adjacent cylinder needles. That is, eachstitch loop formed on the dial is received upon two of the dial needles,which holds it rather open. To effect the transfer of the loops from thedial needles to the cylinder needes which are ineffective during ribknitting, the dial needles with the stitch loops hung thereon areprojected forwardly so that the stitchloops on the dial needles arepositioned immediately over the ineffective cylinder needles, and thelatter are then cammed through said loops; the stitch loops then beingcast ofi the dial needles and onto the previously ineffective alternatecylinder needles. Thus, all of the cylinder needles will then be inposition to proceed with plain knitting. This cooperative needle actionis shown in the fragmentary needle perspective of Figure 6; it beingshown in that view that the foremost dial and cylinder needles to theright are knitting ribbed work, and the transfer of the stitch loopsfrom the dial needles to the previously ineffective cylinder needles isshown on the foremost needles to the left of the vertical center line ofthe axis of the dial.

A very compact mechanism is provided for operating the large number ofcylinder and dial needle cams. It includes a plurality of operatinglevers 88, 8|, 82, 83, 88, 85, 86, 81, 88, 89 and 98, shown in Figure 3of the drawings, which are bent into substantially U or V-shape, so thatthe intermediate portions thereof may be placed in abutment and disposedupon a common pivot pin or extension 92 which is carried by the frame ofthe machine in the position shown in Figure 1 of the drawings. Each ofthe levers from this pivot 92 extends rather divergent with respect tothe adjacent levers so that the outer ends of the levers both forwardlyand rearwardly are relatively spaced, as is clearly shown in Figure 3.These outer ends are adapted for receiving cam actuating links orlevers, at either end thereof, as the case may be.

The levers 88 to 98 inclusive are actuated either by grooves or lugsplaced upon the operating drum 98. The latter is rotatably mounted upona suitable bolt or shaft 95 secured to an extension or side wall of themachine frame B, as shown in Figures 1,, 3 and 8 of the drawings. Thedrum 94 is preferably hollow. It has an externallysmooth circumferenceexcept adjacent to the frame of the machine where a rigid ratchet wheelis provided either integral or as an attachment therewith. The ratchetwheel is designated at 96 in the drawings and there are sixty teethprovided on it about the circumference of the'drum.

Mechanism is provided for operating upon the length of two teeth for onerevolution of the cylinder. That is accomplished by providing upon thedrum facing side of the gear wheel 23 four laterally extending pins 91,which are positioned 60 apart on the gear wheel. That is, only of thegear wheel is provided with the pins 91. The pins 91 each have rollersthereon which are in position to engage a pivoted lever 98. This lever98 is keyed upon a shaft 99 bearing at I88 upon the rear of the frameBof the machine, as shown in Figure 9 of the drawings. Referring toFigures 4, 5 and 9 of the drawings it will be noted that the shaft'99 isalso provided with another radially extending arm I8I keyed thereon,which intermediate its ends has a pivoted pawl I82 extending therefromand at its free end resting by gravity upon the teeth .of the ratchetwheel 96. A spring I83 is connected between the frame of the machine andthe lever IN and normally draws the latter into position so that the arm98 will engage against the gear lugs 91 as the 104 gear rotates, as willbe apparent from Figures 4, 5 and 9. Of course, rotation of the gear 23will bring the lugs or pins 91 into engagement with the arm 98, throwingthe latter rearwardly, and also moving the pawl I82 rearwardly, andincident to engagement of the pawl with the teeth of the ratchet wheel98, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the drum 94 will be advanced one toothfor each time that a pin or lug 91 engages against and moves the arm 98.Inasmuch as the four lugs 91 on the wheel 23 are positioned 60 apart, itis apparent that the drum 98 will be advanced the length of two teethfor one revolution of the cylinder.

In order to prevent continuous step by step r.

rotation of the drum 94 after the cams have been put into properoperation either for plain or ribbed knitting, means is provided whichwill hold the pawl actuating lever 98 out of the path of movement of thepins or lugs 91. This mechanism includes a bell crank detent lever I85,pivoted at I88 on the side wall of the machine frame B, as shown inFigures 4 and 5 of the drawings; one end of the lever I85 at I81 beingadapted for abutment with a surface I88 on the arm I8I, as shown inFigure 5 of the drawings. to hold the lever 98 in position out of thepath of engagement with the lugs 91. In this position the spring I83will of course be further tensioned. This bell crank lever I85 at itsopposite end is provided with a connecting rod II8 pivoted therewith atIII; the opposite end of the connecting rod II8 extending downwardly andbeing pivoted at II2 with the lower (lid of an arm II3. rotatablybearing at H5, as shown in Figures 3. 4 and 5 of the drawings on themachine frame, at the front thereof. The pattern chain H6 is providedwith a trip lug II1 adapted to operate against an arm H8 pivoted on ashaft H9. A leaf spring I28 normally urges the arm IIB against thepattern chain in the path of movement of the lug H1. The shaft H4 isfurthermore provided with an arm I2I engaging against the arm II8. Aspring I23 secured to the frame of the machine and the connecting rod H8is under tension and normally urges the bell crank lever I85 into theposition shown in Figure 5 and also urges the lever arm I2I against thearm H8.

To hold the detent bell crank lever I85 inoperative, as Well as itsassociated mechanism, a

The latter is keyed on a shaft H4,

may be selectively placed at intervals on the drum 94. The other armportion of the bell crank lever I is notched at I3I and I32, in steppedrelation; these notches being adapted to receive a pin I33 which isrigid upon a side of the bell crank detent lever I05.

As shown in Figure 4 of the drawings during step by step advance of thedrum 94 the bell crank lever I25 is lowered at its end I21 to engage thedrum periphery, and in this position the notch I3I receives the pin I33to hold the bell crank lever I05 out of restraining relation with thearm- IOI, notwithstanding the action of the spring I23. In this positionof parts the lug II1 will readily pass by the arm II8. In order to tripthe arm 98 and throw it out of operating relation with the lugs 91, tostop a further step by step advance of the drum 94, it is necessary tohave a lug I so placed on the drum that it will ride against the concaveface of the end I21 of the bell crank lever I25, so that the latter isrocked into the position shown in Figure 5, and at which instant thespring I23 will urge the bell crank lever I05 to the position shown inFigure 5, abutting the end I01 against the edge I08 of the lever arm IN,and holding the arm 98 out of operating relation, as is quite apparent.The detent lever I05 is trippedfrom this position by the lug II1 on thepattern chain H6, and at which time the pin I33 will engage in the lowernotch I3I of the lever I25 to hold the bell crank detent lever I05inoperative and permit the step by step actuation of the drum 94 tobring the lugs and grooves of the latter into needle cam operatingrelation with associated lever mechanisms.

Referring to the cam arrangement on the dial cap 50 in connection withthe dial needles as supported upon the bed 46, and referring to Figures7 and 8 of the drawings, the undersurface of the dial cap is providedwith substantially concentric major inner and outer grooves I35 and I36,wherein are received the butts of the dial needles. The bed of the dialrotates in the direction shown by the arrows in Figures '1 and 8 of thedrawings, and it is especially apparent from Figure 7 of the drawingsthat when the butts ride in the inner groove I35 the dial needles willbe inoperatively retracted in the dial bed, and it is only when ridingin the groove I36 that the butts are positioned to be thrown intooperating engagement with certain transfer and cast-off stitch cams I40and I4I. These cams I40 and MI are stationary upon the dial capstructure, but there are three cams I42, I43 and I44 which arevertically movable upon the dial cap for the purpose of guiding thebutts of the dial needles from the groove I35 into the groove I36 orvice versa. Furthermore, the: dial cap also supports a verticallyreciprocating latch closing cam I45 which is adapted to hold the needlelatches closed during the projecting of the stitches held on the dialneedles preparatory to a cast-off onto the cylinder needles to effect atransfer from rib knitting to plain knitting. A cam extension I35 throwsthe needle butts from the inner groove I35 to the outer groove I36 afterone dial revolution.

The cams I42 to I45 inclusive are respectively provided with springactuated plungers I46, I41, I48 and I49, reciprocably supported invertical sleeve-like housings I50, and of the construction shown inFigure 2. The springs thereof :normally urge the plungers upwardly andof course draw the cams to normally inoperative positions.

The plungers I46 to I49 inclusive, which respectively are associatedwith the cams I42 to I45, are in turn respectively associated withactuating levers I 50, I 5|, I52 and I53, which are of identicalconstruction. The latter levers are all pivoted on a common pivot pinI54 supported on a bracket I55 which is rigid with the arm 5I abovedescribed, as is shown in Figure 1. The ends of the levers I50 to I53inclusive, at the opposite sides of the pivot axis I54 from the endswhich engage their respective cam plungers, are respectively acted uponby vertically reciprocating links orlevers I56 to I59. These levers attheir upper ends are supported for vertical guiding in a bracket arm I60connected on the standard M, as shown in Figure 1. Intermediate theirends they extend through a suitable opening in the bed of the machineand at their lower ends they are respectively pivoted to the rear endsof the drum operated levers 85, 83, 84 and 82, as is shown in Figure 9of the drawings. The remainder of the cam operating levers, camstructures, and control means will be described as the operation of themachine is outlined.

During plain knitting, as above mentioned, the dial needles areinoperative so far as the knitting yarn is concerned, and the only camsthat are operative are the main knitting cams I10, HI, and I12, whichare conventionally carried on the main cam blockv I13; the cams beingshown in Figures 3 and 3a of the drawings. In referring to the needleand cam action of the cylinder as diagrammatically illustrated in thedeveloped view of Figure 3w it should be noted that the right handportion, as designated shows the parts during the knitting of rib work,and the left hand portion shows the parts in position at the start oftransfer from rib knitting to plain knit ting.

Continuing the description of the knitting operation during plainknitting, as above mentioned, cams I10, HI and I12 are operative, and

the butts of the cylinder needles ride along the cam edge I14 after theknitting operation takes place. During plain knitting all of thecylinder needles take the body yarn 32.

Plain knitting may continue as long as desired, according to thepattern, and at this time the cam drum 94 is not rotating since the lugor projection I30 on the drum 94 has moved the lever I25 into theposition shown in Figure 5 of the drawings, thus inoperativelypositioning the advancing pawl mechanism for the drum. As soon as plainknitting has been finished on the article being knitted, the patterncontrol chain lug II1 trips the lever I05, through the sequence abovedescribed, again setting the pawl mechanism of the drum in operatingrelation to the lugs 91, for step by step advancement of the drum. Ingoing from plain knitting into rib knittingv the first step is to clearthe latches of the cylinder needles. This is done through elevation ofthe cam I15, shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. This latch clearing camis of conventional nature and it is elevated ofi the pattern shaft drum40, by means of a lever I 16 pivoted at I11. This lever 116 has a springI18, and thru a connecting rod I19 the latch clearing cam may be movedto a latch clearing position with the cylinder needles, which is of thedrawings. 15.

into operation simultaneously with a pair of cams I82 and I83; thelatter pair being mounted on the same block I84, as shown in Figure 1 ofthe drawings. The jack cam I8I is mounted upon a slide block I85 forradial sliding upon the bed of the machine, being spring urged at I81"into normal operating position. The slide block I88 is operated upon bya bell crank lever I81 which is connected to a rod I88 attached to thedrum actuated lever 90. The cam block I84 is actuated by a bell cranklever I89 which is connected with a link I90 secured to the forward endof the drum actuated lever 89, as is shown in Figures 1 and 3 The drumactuated levers 89 and 90, at their rear ends, as shown in Figure 9 ofthe drawings and elsewhere, normally ride upon segmental ribs I92 andI93, which areprovided with certain depressions I94 and I95respectively, into which the rear ends of the levers 89 and 90 drop topermit the raising of the fore ends of the levers 89 and 90 and theinward movement of the cams I8I, I82 and I83 into operative relationwith the jack and needle butts of the cylinder. The cam I8I is inposition to take the butts of only the short jacks I5, starting with thelong butts. It elevates all of the short jacks I6 and thus pushes thealternate cylinder needles upwardly so that their butts will rideagainst the uppermost cam I82. The remaining cylinder needles remain inplace and their butts are engaged by the cam I83. The needles engaged bythe latter cam are lowered so that their butts will ride against aninner cam edge I9'I of the needle support ring I98, which is shown indotted lines in Figure 3 of the drawings, thus lowering these alternatecylinder needles to an inoperative position in the cylinder; the ringI98 having an annular groove I99, shown in dotted lines in Figure 3a ofthe drawings, for reception of the cylinder needle butts during ribknitting. This position is well shown in the right hand portion ofFigure 3a. The cylinder needles whose butts ride against the cam I82 areof course returned to a position where they are cperated upon by theknitting cams. Any suitable means may be used to prevent unraveling, dueto dropping of stitches from those cylinder needles which are buried, asabove mentioned, such as the use of a crowding yarn. Cams' I'I5, I8I,I82 and I83 are then withdrawn from operation on the needles and jackbutts. The dial cam I42 is lowered;

.the drum operating lever 85 thereof first being operated upon by thelow portion 200 of a drum lug 20I fordepressing the dial cam I42sufficiently to first operate on the long butts of the dial needles.This cam I42 throws the dial needle butts from the groove I36 intoposition so that they are engaged by the cast-ofi cam I4I which projectsthe latch needles of the dial into position for receiving the main bodyyarn 32, as shown at the right hand portion of Figure 6 of the drawings.Knitting is efiected when the dial needles are retracted at the portion202 of the dial cam, as can readily be understood from Figures 6, 7 and8 of the drawings. Rib knitting is now being effected on one-half of thecylinder needles, that is, the alternate needles, and in cooperationwith all of the dial needles, and it should be noted that during ribknitting, shown at the right hand portion in Figure 6 of the drawings,each dial stitch loop 205 is held on two of the dial needles; therebeing thus two operative dial needles in the space between the effectivecylinder needles during rib knitting.

Rib knitting is continued as long as desired,

since a stop lug I30 is positioned on the drum 94, which immediatelyafter manipulation of the cams for bringing rib knitting into play, willtrip the detent lever I25 and permit the bell crank lever I05 to assumethe position shown in Figure 5 for holding the pawl I02 inoperative, andthus preventing step by step rotation of the drum until the patternchain again brings a lug similar to H1 into operation for tripping thelever I05.

When rib knitting of the article has been completed, and the patterncontrol-mechanism has again thrown the pawl I02 into operativeassociation with the wheel 96, a cam 2I0 is thrown into position toengage the butts of the alternate cylinder needles which were previouslyeffective during rib knitting, as is shown in Figure 3a, of thedrawings. This cam 2I0 is mounted in a cam block 2 and normally springurged out of operation. The cam 2I0 is operatively connected with a bellcrank lever 2 I2, and the latter in turn is connected by a rod 2I3 withthe rear end of i the cam drum actuated lever 8I. As shown in Figures 10and 17 of the drawings the drum 94 has 9. lug 2l4 thereon, a low portion2I5 of which first engages the lever 8I for the purpose of throwing thecam 2I0 into position to first engage the long butts of the cylinderneedles, and thereafter as the lever 8I rides upon the higher portion ofthe drum lug 2I4 the cam 2) will be thrown into operation to engage thealternate shorter butt needles. The cylinder will rotate twice with thecam 2I0 effective upon the needle butts, and it is to be noted that thecam 2I6 will bring these alternate needles, which were previouslyineifective during rib knitting, back into position to be operated uponby the knitting cams. Immediately after the alternate cylinderneedleshave been lowered by the cam 2I0 the latch holding cam I45 islowered into effective latch holding relation with the dial needles, andsimultaneous therewith the dial cams I43 and I44 are depressed intoneedle butt engaging relation with the dial needles. Also simultaneouswith the effective bringing into play of the cams I43, I44 and I45 thereare brought into efiective jack butt engaging relation a pair of cams220 and 22I. The latter two cams are mounted upon a single supportingblock 222, which is actuated by a bell crank lever 223, as shown inFigures 1 and 9 of the drawings; the said bell crank lever beingoperatively connected with the drum actuated lever 80 by a connectingrod 224. The dial cam I43 is depressed, for the purpose of throwing thedial needles radially outward in cooperative relation with the latchclosing cam I45, which is also simultaneously lowered, and also incooperation with the cast-off stationary cam I40 shown in Figures 7 and8 of the drawings. As will be noted, the cam operating drum 94 isprovided with' a lug 230, see Figures 10 and 15, which has a lowportion23I at the advancing side which first comes into engagement with thelever 83 rocking the same, and through the connecting rod I5'I operatingthe plunger mechanism for depressing. the cam I43 so that the long buttsof the dial needles are engaged first,

and thereafter the higher portion of the lug 230 further depresses thecam to take the short butts of the dial needles. Noting from Figures 6and 7 that the latches of the dial needles are closed, as shown at 233in Figure 6 of the drawings, the cam I43 projects the needles with thelatches closed radially outward. The cam I45 has been lowered, as abovementioned, to maintain these latches of the dial needles closed. as h'ulproject radially outward, so that the stitch loops hung on the pairs ofdial needles may be projected under tension radially outward to positionthen directly over the alternate cylinder needles which are buried andinactive during rib knitting. This cam I45 is operated off the lug 234on the drum 94, asshown in Figures 10 and 16, and elsewhere; the lug 234operating the lever 82 and through the connecting link I51 operating theplunger mechanism of the cam I45 for lowering the latter to the positionshown in Figure 1 of the drawings. dial needles with their latchesclosed are projected beneath the cam I45 and the latches are held closedby the latter until the 'stitch loops, shown at 231 in Figure 6 of thedrawings are directly over the alternate cylinder need1es,.which werepreviously inactive during rib knitting, and which cylinder needles arenow elevated through action of the cams 220 and 22I to slip within therespective loops 231. With the cylinder needles within the stitch loops231, as shown in Figure 6, the dial needles are projected radiallyoutward .by riding against the cam I40 until the latches ride off thecam I45, and at which time since the stitch loops are tensioned, thelatches spring open, as shown in Figure 6 and the loops 231 slip'backwardly over the open latches. The dial needles are then retractedto cast off from the loops 231; these loops then being hung on thealternate cylinder needles. This transfers thestitch loops from the dialneedles to the cylinder needles and the cams and needles may now bemanipulated as previously explained for plain knitting. 7

Referring to the operation of the cams 228 and 22 I, and referring toFigure 3a of the drawings, it will be noticed that the cam 220 operateson the butts of the long jacks and elevates them to a position where thecam 22I may operate on the butts of both the short and long Jacks.Inasmuch as the cam 22I brings the butts of all of the jacks, both long.and short, to the same level, it will be quite apparent from Figure 3aof the drawings that the previously'inactive cylinder needles buried inthe cylinder grooves during rib knitting will be projected upwardlythrough the plane in which the dial needles lie, and as above describedfor the purpose of slipping them through the stitch loops 231 of theyarn hung on the dial needles. Of course, the cam 22I only elevates thecylinder needles which are beneath the short jacks to a position wheretheir hooks lie below the plane in which the dial needles lie.

As above men 'oned the cams 220 and 22I are on the same block 222; thedrum 94 being provided with a lug 240 which operates a lever to whichthe connecting rod 224 is aflixed.

Referring to Figures 7 and 8 of the. drawings it is to be noted thatafter the transfer operation the dial needles are prevented from takingnew yarn. The cam I44 is instrumental in retracting the needles, as itis lowered simultaneous with the cams I43, I45, 220 and HI. It firstengages the long butts of the dial needles and throws the butts into theinner groove I35 of the dial cam construction, as shown in Figure 7,thus preventing the dial needles from ra dially extending to take thenew knitting yarn. Immediately thereafter the cam I42 is elevated out ofthe path of the dial needle butts, by reason of the fact that the leverrides off the lug 20I, so that the short butt dial needles pass by thecam I4I without being projected.

As the dial bed rotates the The drum 94 is provided with a lug 242 whichoperates the lever 84 for the purpose of depressing the dial cam I44, aswill be obvious from the drawings. From Figure 10 it will be apparentthatthe starting ends of the lugs 230, 234, 240, and 242 are all in thesame line for simultaneously actuating the dial cams I43, I44, and.l45,as well as the cylinder jack cams 220 and 22I.

It is to be noted that the latch holding cam I45 really cooperates withthe latch ring 28 of the machine in holding the latches closed until thedial needles are opposite a notch 245, on the latch ring 28, shown inFigure 1 of the drawings, and at which time the latches of the dialneedles spring open due to tension of the stitch loops 231 thereon, andthus the dial needle stitch loops 231 ride back against the elevatedcylinder needles, as shown in the left hand portion of Figure 6 of thedrawings.

Subsequent to the above operation the cylinder needles are next actuatedby the cam 2I6,

as usual; said cam 2I6 operating on the butts of all of the cylinderneedles, and of course they take the new knitting yarn and are actuatedby the knitting cams in conventional manner to h produce plain knitting.

Thereafter the lug I30 of the drum will ride into engagement with thetrip lever I 25 for throwing the advancing pawl out of operation untilthe latter is tripped into operation by the pattern chain, as abovedescribed.

If desired both round and tuck welts may be knitted with my machine.

It is to be noted from Figure 1 that springs 94*" hold each of thelevers 80 to 98 inclusive into engagement at their rear ends with thedrum 94,

During plain knitting the dial needles are of course retracted. At thestart of rib knitting, when the cam I42 is lowered, the dial needles areprojected, with their latches closed. To open r the latter, so that thedial needles-may receive the knitting yarn, a brush 25I has beenprovided. It is mounted detachably at 252 (seeFigure 3) on the latchring, and has hair bristles into which the dial needles project, andwhich throw the, latches open as the dial needles are farther that is,without stopping the machine and manually effecting the transfer. Thus,plain knitting may embody the knitting of fabric having tuck, mesh, ordrop stitches, and may include also the knitting of fabric with platingyarns either normally plated, striped, or reverse plated in designs.

Reference is also made in the specification and claims to means forholding the dial needle latches closed in order to project the stitchloops into transferring relation with the cylinder needles. The termclosed is not to be construed as limiting the operation to a completeshutting of the latches, since the latches may Ill remain partially openand still effect the desired result.

Various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be madeto the embodiment of the improved knitting machine herein describedwithin the scope of the claims.

I claim? 1. In a knitting machine for automatic transfer from ribknitting to plain knitting the combination of a dial, a cylinder, latchneedles, and operating devices therefor including means to transfer fromrib knitting to plain knitting, said means comprising means to hold thelatches of the dial needles closed while the latter are projected toextend the respective yarn loops of the fabric being rib knitted whichare hung thereon to positions over the subjacent cylinder needles. meansto extend the said cylinder needles through said loops as thus held bythe closed latch needles, and means subsequently operating the dialneedles to cast off said loops onto the cylinder needles.

2. In a knitting machine the combination with a cylinder and cylinderneedles, a dial and dial needles, means for actuating all of thecylinder needles and inoperatively positioning the dial needles toproduce plain knitting upon the cylinder needles, the cylinder needlesbeing provided in substantially the same number as the dial needles andin intermeshing yarn receiving relation therewith, and means toautomatically proceed from plain to rib knitting upon said cylinder anddial needles including means to bury the alternate cylinder needles inthe cylinder in inactive relation so that the yarn during rib knittingis looped upon the remaining cylinder needles and all of the dialneedles with each dial stitch loop hung on a pair of the dial needlesbetween the adjacent effective cylinder needles.

3. In a knitting machine the combination with a cylinder and cylinderneedles, a dial and dial needles, means for actuating all of thecylinder needles and inoperatively positioning the dial needles toproduce plain knitting upon the cylinder needles, the cylinder needlesbeing provided in substantially the same number as the dial needles inintermeshing yarn receiving relation therewith, means to produce ribknitting upon said cylinder and dial needles including means to bury thealternate cylinder needles in the cylinder in inactive relation so thatthe yarn during rib knitting is looped upon the remaining cylinderneedles and all of the dial needles with each dial stitch loophung on apair of the dial needles between the adjaoent effective cylinderneedles, and means to effect a ansfer of the stitch'loops from the dialneedles to he alternate cylinder needles which are inactive during ribknitting including means to project the dial needles and the stitchloops hung thereon into position over the cylinder needles which areinactive during rib knitting and elevating the latter cylinder needlesinto the stitch loops of the dial needles. and casting off the stitchloops from the said dial needles.

4.'In a knitting machine, two sets of needles, operating means thereforto produce ribbed or plain knitted fabric, said operating meansincluding means to knit plain fabric on one of said sets of needles,means to knit ribbed fabric on all of the needles of the second set andthe alternate needles of the set on which the plain fabric is knitted,and means for direct projection of the stitches by the needles of thesecond set into position to receive in the stitch loops thereof the saidalternate needles of the first set which are inactive during ribknitting when transferring from rib knitting to plain knitting.

5. In a knitting machine the combination of a set of cylinder needles, aset of dial needles, said dial needles being projected in pairs side byside through the spaces between adjacent effective cylinder needlesduring the knitting of ribbed work so that the stitch loops of thefabric being knitted are hung from the dial needles, with each pair ofdial needles receiving a single stitch loop of the fabric yarn, andmeans for transferring the stitch loops from the pairs of dial needlesto the cylinder needles when transferring from rib knitting to plainknitting.

6. In a knitting machine the combination of a set of cylinder latchneedles, a set of dial latch needles, means cooperatively manipulatingthe said cylinder and dial needles for the knitting of ribbed workduring which the alternate cylinder needles only are active in theknitting operation with a pair of dial needles cooperating between theadjacently spaced effective cylinder needles, the remainder of thecylinder needles being buried and in position to be elevated in thespaces between the pairs of dial needles cooperating with the adjacentcylinder needles which are effective during ribbed knitting, and meansto manipulate the dial needles, and the cylinder needles which areineffective during ribbed knitting, to transfer the stitch loops of thefabric from the pairs of dial needles to the previously ineffectivecylinder needles to effect an automatic transfer from rib knitting toplain knitting.

7. In a knitting machine the combination of a set of cylinder latchneedles, a set of dial latch needles, means cooperatively manipulatingthe said cylinder and dial needles for the knitting of ribbed workduring which the alternate cylinder needles only are active in theknitting operation with a pair of dial needles cooperating between theadjacently spaced effective cylinder needles, the remainder of thecylinder needles being buried and in position to be elevated in thespaces between the pairs of dial needles cooperating with the adjacentcylinder needles which are effective during ribbed knitting, means tomanipulate the dial needles, and the cylinder needles which areineffective during ribbed knitting, to transfer the stitch loops of thefabric from the pairs of dial needles to the previously ineffectivecylinder needles to effect an automatic transfer from rib knitting toplain knitting, said last mentioned means including means to hold thelatches of the dial needles closed for projection of the dial needlesand the stitch loops thereon into position with the stitch loops locatedto directly receive therein the cylinder needles cooperatively locatedtherebelow when elevated to effect the transfer.

8. In a knitting machine the combination of a set of cylinder needles,2. set of dial needles of the pivotal latch type, and means to transferstitch loops from the dial needles to the cylinder needles including cammeans for holding the latches of the dial needles closed and forprojecting the dial needles outwardly to position the stitch loops hungon the dial needles in an open cylinder needle receiving relation.

9. In a knitting machine the combination of a cylinder, a dial, a set ofcylinder needles, a set of dial needles, means to drive the cylinder,and means synchronized with the last mentioned means to drive the dialincluding a universal jointed connection to permit the dial to rotate ina concentric relation with the cylinder.

10. In a knitting machine the combination of a cylinder, a dial, a setof cylinder needles, a set of dial needles, means to drive the cylinder,means synchronized with the last mentioned means to drive the dialincluding a universal jointed connection to permit the dial to rotate ina concentric relation with the cylinder, said dial drive means includingmeans for angularly adjusting the dial with respect to the cylinder tocfiect minute angular adjustments between the cylinder and dial.

11. In a knitting machine the combination of a .cylinder, a dial,cooperative cylinder and dial needle sets, means for manipulating theneedles for the production of knitted fabric, means for rotating thecylinder, and means for synchronously driving the dial with the cylinderincluding a flexible drive connection which will automatically permitthe dial to preserve its concentricity with the cylinder.

12. In a knitting machine the combination of a cylinder, a set'ofcylinder latch needles, a dial, a set of dial latch needles, means forinactively positioning the dial needles and actively positioning thecylinder needles to effect plain knitting upon the latter, patterncontrolling means for rendering all of the dial needles active andrendering the alternae cylinder needles inactive for the' production ofrib knitted fabric upon the remaining cylinder needles and the dialneedles, means for automatically transferring the stitch loops from thedial needles to the cylinder needles which are inactive during ribknitting, including means to project the dial latch needles with thelatches closed until the stitch loops hung thereon are positioned inopen relation over the adjacent cylinder needles which are inactiveduring rib knitting, means for elevating the said cylinder needles whichare inactive during rib knitting through the open loops of the dialneedles as held by the last mentioned means, and means furthermanipulating the dial and cylinder needles for casting, off the stitchloops from the dial needles onto the said alternate cylinder needleswhich were previously inactive during the rib knitting operation.

13. In a knitting machine for the automatic knitting of plain or ribbedfabric a cylinder including a set of needles, a dial including a set oflatch needles, cam means or the dial for projecting the dial needlesinto yarn receiving and knitting relation, means for rendering the lastmentioned cam means inactive with respect to said dial needles, othercam means for projecting the .dial needles with the stitch loops hungthereon radially outwardly, and cam means associated with the lastmentioned means for holding the latches closed as they are projected bythe last mentioned means for projecting the yarn loops hung thereonoutwardly to a desired cylinder needle receiving position.

14. In a knitting machine for the automatic knitting of plain or ribbedfabric a cylinder including a set of needles, a dial including a set oflatch needles, cam means on the dial for projecting the dial needlesinto yarn receiving and knitting relation, means for rendering the lastmentioned cam means inactive with respect to said dial needles, othercam means for projecting ihe dial needles with the stitch loops hungthereon radially outwardly, cam means associated with the last mentionedmeans for holding the latches closed as they are projected by the lastmentioned means for projecting the yarn loops hung thereon outwardly toa desired cylinder needle receiving position, and means to inoperativelyretract all of the dial needles at a position succeeding the lastmentioned means.

15. In a knitting machine for automatically knitting plain and ribfabric and for the automatic transfer of one to the other thecombination of a frame, a rotatable cylinder on the frame, a set ofcylinder needles, a dial, a set of dial needles, a set of operating camsfor the cylinder, a set of depressible cams for the dial, a camcontrolling drum, a set of levers mounted on a common pivot in operativeassociation with the drum, means for step by step advancement of thedrum, means for automatically tripping the last men tioned means, andconnecting means between the said levers and the various cylinder anddial cams for cooperatively operating said cams.

16. In a knitting machine dial cam construction the combination of adial cap having a pair of substantially concentric inner and outer buttreceiving grooves therein, a needle projecting cam for projecting theneedles to yarn receiving position located in cooperative associationwith the outer groove, a movable cam for selectively defleetingthe buttsof the needles against the last mentioned cam, a knitting cam, a cam inthe path of the inner groove for deflecting the butts of the needlesinto the outer groove, a movable cam associated with the outer groovefor deflecting the butts of the needles into the inner groove, a needleprojecting cam spaced from the knitting cam for projecting the needlesto a latch shedding position, a movable cam associated with the outergroove and with the last mentioned cam for selectively directing thebutts of the needles onto the last mentioned cam, said movable cam whichis positioned to deflect the butts of the-needles from the outer to theinner groove being posit oned to receive the butts of the needles afterthey have passed the latch shedding cam, and a latch closing cam inposition to hold the latches closed as they are fed outwardly by thelatch shedding cam.

17. In a knitting machine for the production of ribbed or plain knittedfabric and for the automatic transfer of one to the other, thecombination of a cylinder having grooves therein, a set of cylinderneedles operative in said grooves, a set of short jacks in said groovesbeneath the alternatev cylinder needles, a set of longer jacks in thegrooves beneath the remaining cylinder needles, a dial and a set of dialneedles, means for manipulating all of the cylinder needles fdr theproduction of plain knitting, cam means actuating the jacks'and needlesfor alternately dividing the cylinder needles so that the cylinder ineedles with the longer jacks therebeneath are inactively buried in thecylinder during a rib knitting operation, means for manipulating thealternate elevated cylinder needles which have the shorter jackstherebeneath in combination with all of the dial needles for theproduction of rib knitted fabric, the dial needles with such arrangementhaving a pair of each operating in the spaces between the effectiveadjacent cylinder needles and in side by side relation,

whereby the loops on the pairs of dial needles will be held in a spreadrelation, means to hold the latches of the dial needles closed whenprojecting the dial needles with the loops hung thereon outwardly toposition the open loops held thereon directly over the buried cylinderneedles which are ineffective during rib knitting, cam means forelevating said last mentioned cylinder needles into the open loops ofthe yarn held on the dial needles, and means for subsequently r a set ofcylin r needles, means for manipulating both of said sets of needles forthe production of rib knitting wherein alternate loops of the fabric inthe course being knitted are held upon needles of the first set and theremaining loops of the fabric in the course being knitted are each heldon relatively spaced pairs of needles of the second set with each loopdistended, and means for manipulating said sets of needles to transferthe loops of the second set to needles of the first mentioned set bywhich the needles of the first set are projected through the loops heldon pairs of needles of the second set and said loops transferredtherefrom.

19. In a knitting machine for knitting plain and ribbed fabric and fortransferring from ribbed fabric to plain knitted fabric automatically,the combination of a set of cylinder needles, a set of dial needles,means for manipulating said sets whereby during ribbed knittingalternate loops of the fabric in the course being knitted are held onalternate cylinder needles and the remaining loops on the dial needleswith each of the last mentioned loops on a pair of relatively spaceddial needles to hold said loops laterally distended, and means toproject the remaining cylinder needles through the distended loops heldon the pairs 'of dial needles and freeing the loops of the dial needlesto transfer them to the said remaining cylinder needles.

20. In a knitting machine the combination of a set of cylinder needles,a set of dial needles, said dial needles being projected in pairs sideby side thru the spaces between effective cylinder needles during theknitting of ribbed work so.

that each alternate stitch loop of the fabric being knitted during ribknitting is hung upon a pair of relatively spaced side by side dialneedles, and means for transferring the stitch loops from the pairs ofdial needles including means to elevate the respective cylinder needlesbetween the needles of an adjacent pair of dial needles through thestitch loop hung thereon, and means to cast the stitch onto the cylinderneedle. I

21. In a k itting machine the combination of kneedles, a set of dialneedles of the latch type, and means to transfer stitch loops from thedial needles to the cylinder needles including cam means for holding thelatches of the dial needles closed with the stitch loops directly on theneedles and for projecting the dial needles outwardly to position thestitch loops as so hung on the dial needles in an, open cylinder needle'receiving relation.

22. A knitting machine for knitting fabric partly ribbed and partlyplain, having two needle carriers, ever active and occasionally activeneedles recurrently interspersed in one carrier, and pairs of laterallyspaced needles in the other carrier corresponding to the occasionallyactive needles, in combination with means for knitting ribbed work uponsaid ever active needles and the pairs of laterally spaced needles sothat each of said pairs of laterally spaced needles receives a stitchloop in laterally distended relation thereon, means for projecting theoccasionally active needles between the needles of the pairs oflaterally spaced needles respectively associated therewith and into therespective distended stitch loops thereon, and means for casting theloops off said pairs of laterally spaced needles onto the respectiveoccasionally active needles inserted in the stitch loops thereon.

23. In a knitting machine the combination of a set of needles, a secondset of needles, carrier means for cooperatively receiving said sets ofneedles, both of said sets of needles being of the latch type, andmeansto transfer stitch loops from the first set of needles to the second setof needles including means to hold the latches of the first set ofneedles closed and to project the needles and the respective stitchesthereof into stitch transferring relation with the needles of the secondset.

24. In a knitting machine the combination of a set of needles, a secondset of needles, carrier means for cooperatively receiving said needlesfor relative movement, means for manipulating the first set of needlesso that stitch loops thereof are each held on relatively spaced pairs ofneedles which are independently movable longitudinally and laterallywith respect to each other, and means for manipulating the needles ofboth sets for transferring the loops hung on the pairs of needles of thefirst set to the needles of the second set.

25. In a knitting machine the combination of a cylinder having a set ofneedles therefor, a dial having a set of needles therefor in cooperativeknitting relation with the needles of the cylinder, and means forsynchronously rotating the cylinder and dial including a drive shaft forthe dial arranged substantially axially of the cylinder and having auniversal joint connection therein between the driven end of said shaftand said dial.

26. In a knitting machine a set of needles, a second set of latchneedles, cam means for projecting the latch needles of the second setinto yarn receiving and knitting relation with the needles of the firstset, other cam means for projecting the latch needles of the second setwith the stitch loops hung thereon into stitch transferring relationwith the needles of the first set, cam means associated with the lastmentioned cam means for holding the latches of the second set of needlesclosed as they are projected by said last mentioned cam means in orderto position the loops thereon into needle receiving relation with theneedles of the first set, and means for actuating the needles of bothsets to effect such transfer.

27. In a knitting machine the combination of a set of latch needles, asecond set of latch needles, carrier means for the latch needles of bothsets, and means to effect the transfer of stitch loops from the firstset of needles to the needles of the second set including a cam toproject the needles of the first set into stitch transferring relationwith the needles of the second set, a cam for holding the latches of theneedles in the first set closed during such projection to tension thestitch loops and move them into transfer position with the needles ofthe second set of needles, and means to project the needles of thesecond set into the stitch loops as thus positioned.

28. In a knitting machine the combination of a set of cylinder needles,a set of dial needles, said dial needles being projected in pairs sideby side above the spaces between the effective cylinder needles duringthe knitting of ribbed work so that each alternate stitch loop of thefabric is hung upon a pair of relatively spaced side by side dialneedles, means for projecting said pairs of dial needles radiallyoutward, means for holding the latches of the dial needles closed asthey are thus projected outward until the stitch loops are tensionedthereagainst and positioned in transferring relation with the respectivecylinder needles associated therewith, means to elevate the respectivecylinder needles between the needles of an adjacent pair of dial needlesthru the stitch loops hung thereon, the tensioned stit'ch loops openingthelatches when the means holding the dial needle latches closed ispassed, and means to further project the dial needles to cast oil thestitches hung thereon onto the respective cylinder needles.

29.v In a knitting machine the combination of a set of latch needles, asecond set of latch needles, means,to knit fabric upon the needles ofboth of said sets, and means to automatically transfer the stitch loopsfrom one of said sets to the other set-including means to hold thelatches of the first set of needles in position to prevent slipping ofthe stitch past the latch during needle projection, means to project theneedles with the latches holding the stitches as aforesaid into stitchtransferring relationwith of needles when changing from the knitting onboth sets of needles to the other set of needles including means toproject said'needles of the two sets into stitch transferring relation,and means holding the stitches against cast-oif directly by the latchesof that set of needles from which the cast-01f is to be made until theneedles of the other set are in respective stitch transferring relationwithin the stitch loops hung upon the respective needles from which thestitches are to be cast off, and subsequently casting the stitches 01fthe latches and needles thereof onto the needles which have been placedin stitch transferring relation therewith.

31. In a knitting machine for automatically transferring from ribknitting to another type of knitting, the combination of two sets oflatch needles, operating devices therefor including means to transferfrom rib knitting to said other type of knitting and vice versa, saidmeans comprising means to hold the latches of one of said sets ofneedles in position to prevent slipping of the stitch loop hung thereonpast said latches while the said needles whose latches are so held areprojected to extend the stitch loops hung thereon into transferringrelation with the respective needles of the other set, and means tocomplete said transfer of the stitch loops by casting on the stitchloops onto the other needles.

32. In a knitting machine the combination of two sets of needles, tworotatable carriers, one for each set of needles, means to drive one ofsaid carriers, andmeans synchronized with the last mentioned means todrive the other carrier including a universal jointed connection topermit the last mentioned carrier to rotate in proper position withrespect to the other carrier.

HARRY McADAMS.

